gilbert



FENCE.

(No Model.)

Irwer'vior:

Patented May 7, 1889.

' T l Zinesses;

UNITED STATES A PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN GILBERT, OF GEORGETOWN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE GILBERT &BENNETT MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 402,817, dated May '7,1889.

Application filed February 25, 1889. Serial No. 301,044. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN GILBERT, of Georgetown, in the county ofFairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented acertain new anduseful Improvement in Fences, of which the following is a specification.

My improvement relates to fences in which wire web is employed inconjunction with fence-posts.

I will describe in detail a fence embodying my improvement, and thenpoint out the novel features in a claim.

' In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fenceembodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof taken onthe line a: so, Fig. 1. Fig. 3

is a view showing a modification of certain parts in detail. Fig. 4 is aview showing still another modification of similar parts. Figs. 2, 3,and 4 are on a somewhat larger scale than Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

A designates fence-posts. These fenceposts are made of metallic tubes inwhich are formed slots at, extending for a distance in the direct-ion ofthe lengths of the posts and having open upper ends at the tops of theposts. The portions of the posts below said slots are unbroken andtubular, and in the example of my improvement shown the lowerextremitiesare flattened out, as at b, to form driving-points.

B designates a wire-fence web, which may be of the usual or any desiredkind. The posts having been erected, the web is passed downwardly withinthe slots, and may be secured to the posts by means of bolts or rivets0, extending through the posts. The upper ends of the posts are hollowedout, as at d. Within these hollowed-out portions is laid a top rail, D.This top rail is longitudinally slotted upon one side. The slot thereinis upon the under side when the rail is arranged upon the'posts. henthus arranged, the fence-Web extends into the slot in the top rail. Theweb may be secured to the rail and in said slot by means of hooks e,which engage the portion of the web within the top rail. These hooks areprovided with shanks e, which extend upwardly through suitable holes inthe upper side of the top rail, and which may be upset to secure thehooks in position. A convenient way to arrange the hooks in the top railis to turn them so that the hook portions will extend parallel with theslot, pass them upwardly through the slot and their shanks through theholes in the top side of the rail. The hooks may then be turned round,so that the hook portions will extend at right angles to the slots. Theshanks are then upset upon the outside of the rail, in order to securethe hooks in position. It is quite easy to engage the hooks with the webafter they have been passed into the top rail.

In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown a means for securing the top rail to thefence-posts, con sisting in bending over the portions of the postsforming the side walls of the hollowedout portions d, so that the toprail will be gripped and its removal from the top of the posts isthereby prevented.

, In Fig. 3 I have shown a band or strap, j, which may be passed overthe top rail and secured to the posts, in this instance by means ofrivets. In Fig. 4 I have shown a bolt passing through the portions ofthe top rail forming the side walls of the hollowedout portion d, andalso through the top rail.

A fence constructed according to my improvement is very simple, strong,and durable, besides being very cheaply constructed.

I have filed an application for United States Letters Patent for animprovement in fences, Serial No. 301,045, dated February 25, 1889, inwhich I show a fence comprising tubular posts slot-ted longitudinally, awirefence web arranged in said slots, and a top rail secured to saidposts and slotted longitudinally to receive the web, together with otherfeatures. I do not herein lay claim, broadly to anything claimedtherein.

. What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

A fence comprising tubular posts slotted longitudinally and havinghollowed-out portions at their upper ends, a wire-fence web arranged insaid slots, and a top rail slotted longitudinally to receive the wireweb and arranged in said hollowed-out portions of the posts and securedto the posts, substantially as specified.

EDWIN GILBERT. \Vitnesses:

FREDK. HAYNES, ARTHUR H. GAMBLIN.

